Hydeia Thomas, Miss Debutante 2013, is presented at the debutante scholarship cotillion on March 16 at the Coliseum.

More than 800 supporters of the Essence of Ebony Pearls attended the debutante scholarship cotillion presented by members of the Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg. The event takes place every other year in partnership with the Youth Development Foundation of Pinellas County. The sorority featured 29 young women and their escorts. The debutantes, their parents and their schools are:

Deborah Figgs-Sanders was chairwoman for the event, and Sakira Hadley, Lena Wilfalk and Lisa Brody were co-chairwomen.

The formal evening included waltzing, a father-daughter dance and the presentation of more than $12,000 in scholarship awards to four participants. Special recognition went to Hydeia Thomas, Miss Debutante 2013; Caprece Thomas, Miss First Attendant; Sydnee Peterman, Miss Second Attendant and Miss Congeniality; Monique Griffin, Miss Third Attendant; Courtney Furse, Miss Community Service; and Monique Harris, Miss Supreme Spirit.

The presentation is the culmination of a six-month training program in which junior and senior high school girls engage in leadership development workshops, etiquette sessions, community service and social activities. Program highlights included their escorts' receiving mentorship from the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a debutante tea party, and a hair and skin care workshop.

There is a reason why the air in Tampa Bay is filled with playoff talk. If Thursday night's 12-8 Bucs preseason win over the Jaguars is any indication, it's also going to be filled with footballs thrown by quarterback Jameis Winston.